Gaming & Culture —

Microsoft prepares major update to Xbox Live

Another major update of the Xbox Live service is on the way. November is a …

Xbox Live was considered a bit of a risk when Microsoft first proposed it for their original Xbox game console. Would players balk at paying a monthly fee for access to online content? Yet the service did so well that it became a key part of Microsoft's console strategy, and prompted competitors like Sony to rush like mad to provide an equivalent service. Now, with the launch of the PlayStation 3 and Wii just a few weeks away, Xbox 360 gamers are in anticipation of a major update to Xbox Live, scheduled for some time in November.

Microsoft has bundled many changes into this update. The Xbox Live Arcade interface has been streamlined and allows for easier management of downloaded Live Arcade titles, including an auto-download option that automatically adds new game demos to the active download list when you enter Xbox Live Arcade. Xbox Live Marketplace has a new and slightly spiffier interface, and Microsoft has added a "Media and Entertainment" tab to its list of purchasable options. The memory card and hard drive management interface has also received an overhaul.

The update will also allow the user to stream WMV videos (including DRMed WMV files) from any Windows PC running Windows Media Player 11 or Media Connect, or from data CDs, DVDs, USB 2.0 flash drives, or Xbox 360 memory cards. Owners of the new Zune music player will be able to stream pictures and music directly to the Xbox 360. For fans of high resolution, the big news is the addition of progressive-scan 1080p display for games and videos that support that resolution (it will, of course, require a monitor capable of displaying 1080p).

Microsoft hopes that the changes will boost interest in the Xbox Live service, especially with Sony's PlayStation 3 just around the corner. Sony has said that their online service will not require a monthly charge, which should put pressure on Microsoft to improve their service. Sony's approach is to give the service away for free but then charge for more types of transactions for game (and other media) content while online—for example the infamous Gran Turismo pay-per-car model. Microsoft is sticking with its "Points" system for online transactions, where the player purchases points from Microsoft and then spends them on game rewards, whereas Sony is planning on making all online transactions display their real-world cost.

Which approach will win out? Sony's method seems to have the advantage of attracting more consumers initially due to the lack of a monthly fee, but Microsoft is hoping that over time, gamers will come to appreciate their online system more. Part of this strategy requires constant upgrading of the Live service in order to give gamers the feeling they are getting value for their money, so look for more Live updates to come in the future.

Small developers and fans of independent game development will be most excited over the final release of the XNA Game Studio Express. For a yearly fee of $99, you can purchase a subscription to Microsoft's rapid application development platform that utilizes the memory-managed .NET development environment. Game developers can create titles using C# and these games and demos will be made available on the LaunchPad (Homebrew developers can play their own games on their Xbox 360, and Microsoft will take a look at the best games and demos and make them available to the general public).

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